FIFA defined the referee in charge of dispensing justice in one of the most anticipated matches of the year. Brazilian Wilton Sampaio will be in charge of directing Mexico vs. South Africa, a duel that will mark the start of the 2026 World Cup before more than 87,000 fans at the Azteca Stadium.

The appointment has generated expectations due to the extensive international career of the South American referee, who has experience in highly demanding tournaments and already knows what it is like to referee matches for the Mexican team.

Wilton Sampaio, the referee who will open the 2026 World Cup

The Brazilian judge will be accompanied by his compatriots Bruno Pires and Bruno Boschilia as assistants. For his part, Paraguayan Juan Gabriel Benítez will serve as fourth officer.

Eduardo Cardozo (Paraguay), Nicolás Gallo (Colombia), Juan Lara (Chile) and Jérôme Brisard (France) will be in the VAR booth, forming a referee team with extensive international experience.

The opening meeting of the 2026 World Cup will also feature a special ceremony prior to the opening whistle, in which Shakira and other world-renowned artists will participate.

The international career of Wilton Sampaio

Born in Teresina de Goiás, Brazil, Wilton Sampaio is considered one of the most experienced referees in Conmebol.

Throughout his career he has directed matches in the Copa América, South American Qualifiers, Copa Libertadores, Copa Sudamericana, Club World Cup and World Cup, establishing himself as one of the usual names in the competitions organized by FIFA.

During the 2025 Club World Cup he participated in highly relevant meetings. Among them, the qualifying match that América lost 2-1 against LAFC stood out, in addition to the 1-1 draw between Monterrey and Inter Milan in the group stage.

Wilton Sampaio's history with the Mexican national team

The appointment of the Brazilian referee brings back good memories for El Tri.

Sampaio led Mexico's 2-0 victory over Jamaica during the Copa América Centenario, a match played in Pasadena, California.

That positive precedent now appears in the run-up to the World Cup debut of the Mexican squad, which starts as favorites against South Africa in the opening duel.

The impressive numbers of the Brazilian referee

Wilton Sampaio's experience is reflected in his professional statistics.

At 44 years old, he has accumulated nearly 700 refereed matches, with 3,523 yellow cards shown, 204 expulsions and 192 penalties awarded.

These records were key for FIFA to grant him the responsibility of directing one of the most important commitments on the international football calendar.

The controversies that marked his career

Despite his prestige, Wilton Sampaio's career has not been without controversy.

During the 2022 Qatar World Cup, the Brazilian referee was the subject of strong criticism after directing the match between England and France corresponding to the quarterfinals.

Various members of the English team questioned specific decisions, including a possible foul on Bukayo Saka in the action that led to the first French goal and an alleged unsigned penalty on Harry Kane.

That performance sparked intense debates in the media and social networks, becoming one of the most discussed arbitrations of the tournament.

Mexico already knows the man with the whistle for its World Cup debut

With a career backed by hundreds of international matches, presence in FIFA tournaments and experience in maximum pressure scenarios, Wilton Sampaio will have the responsibility of directing the historic Mexico vs. South Africa that will officially open the 2026 World Cup.

Now, all eyes will be on not only El Tri's performance, but also on the decisions of the Brazilian referee in one of the most watched matches on the planet.